James W. Griffith Awarded Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree

May 18, 2009

James W. Griffith, president and chief executive officer of The Timken Company of Canton, OH and member of the Mount Union College Board of Trustees since 2004, was presented with the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters at the 163rd Commencement Ceremony at Mount Union College on Saturday, May 9.

“Mr. Griffith – you have served your profession, your community and your peers with distinction, “said Dr. Richard F. Giese upon conferring the doctor of humane letters degree. “As a friend of Mount Union College, we value your advice and leadership and commend you for building a career that serves as a shining example for future generations of students.”

“At a time when the world is looking for true leaders in business, it is refreshing to know that we have such a person in our own backyard,” said Raymond L. Posey, associate professor economics, accounting and business administration and chair of the Department of Economics, Accounting and Business Administration upon presenting the doctor of humane letters degree. “Mr. Griffith has positioned the Timken Company as a leader in its industry while creating increasing value for customers and shareholders through effective and innovative leadership.”

Since being named president in 1999, Griffith has led a transformation of The Timken Company focused on creating ever-increasing levels of value for customers and shareholders. By harnessing its legendary quality and industry-leading innovation, Timken has pushed beyond its historic leadership in the tapered roller bearing market into a vast global market for technologies to manage the friction generated by moving parts and improve the transmission of power in a wide array of machines.

Griffith joined The Timken Company in 1984 and has held positions as plant manager, vice president of manufacturing in North America and managing director of the company’s business in Australia. From 1996 to 1999, he led Timken’s automotive business in North America and the company’s bearing business activities in Asia and Latin America. He was elected president, chief operating officer and director in 1999 and was named chief executive officer in 2002.

Griffith is vice president of the World Bearing Association. He is a member of the Management Executives’ Society and serves on the boards of directors of the Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) and the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET).

Griffith earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master of business administration from Stanford University.